Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. (Leguminosae) is a crop widely distributed in almost all parts of the world. In Ethiopia, common bean is cultivated for two main purposes namely as a source of protein for local consumption and for export. Mostly, it grows in the warm and lowland areas of the country. This experiment was conducted to identify, select and recommend adaptable, high yielding, as well as Insect pest and disease resistant released variety(ies) for major common bean producing areas mainly Kamashi zone and Mao-komo special Woreda of Benishangul gumuz regional state of Ethiopia. Sixteen varieties were evaluated in RCBD with three replications with plot size of 4m x 2.4m = 9.6m2 at Kamashi and Tongo (Mao-komo) testing sites of Assosa Agricultural Research Centre (AsRC) for two years (2013/14 and 2014/15) main cropping seasons. The result of ANOVA showed that there was a significant varietal difference (P< 0.001) in seed yield. The least seed yield per hectare was recorded for Argene variety (474 kg ha-1) and the highest grain yield for SER 125 variety (2220 kg ha-1) followed by SER 119 (2022 kg ha-1) SER 48 varieties (1891kg ha-1) and Nasir variety (1800 kg ha-1). SER 125, SER 119 and SER 48 varieties were performed well across both locations during the consecutive cropping seasons while Nasir variety has another quality of tolerating soil acidity which was the major problem in the western parts of the country including Assosa and western Oromia. Therefore, these varieties have to be promoted in farmer’s field for dissemination and scaling up.

1. Performance Evaluation of released Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) varieties at Benishangul Gumuz region, Ethiopia
IJPBCS
Performance Evaluation of released Common bean
(Phaseolus vulgaris L.) varieties at Benishangul Gumuz
region, Ethiopia
*Habtamu Alemu1, Wakjira Getachew2
1,2
Department of Plant Breeding, Assosa Agricultural Research Center, Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural
Research, P.O.Box 265, Ethiopia
Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. (Leguminosae) is a crop widely distributed in almost all
parts of the world. In Ethiopia, common bean is cultivated for two main purposes namely as a
source of protein for local consumption and for export. Mostly, it grows in the warm and lowland
areas of the country. This experiment was conducted to identify, select and recommend
adaptable, high yielding, as well as Insect pest and disease resistant released variety(ies) for
major common bean producing areas mainly Kamashi zone and Mao-komo special Woreda of
Benishangul gumuz regional state of Ethiopia. Sixteen varieties were evaluated in RCBD with
three replications with plot size of 4m x 2.4m = 9.6m2
at Kamashi and Tongo (Mao-komo) testing
sites of Assosa Agricultural Research Centre (AsRC) for two years (2013/14 and 2014/15) main
cropping seasons. The result of ANOVA showed that there was a significant varietal difference
(P< 0.001) in seed yield. The least seed yield per hectare was recorded for Argene variety (474 kg
ha-1
) and the highest grain yield for SER 125 variety (2220 kg ha-1
) followed by SER 119 (2022 kg
ha-1
) SER 48 varieties (1891kg ha-1
) and Nasir variety (1800 kg ha-1
). SER 125, SER 119 and SER 48
varieties were performed well across both locations during the consecutive cropping seasons
while Nasir variety has another quality of tolerating soil acidity which was the major problem in
the western parts of the country including Assosa and western Oromia. Therefore, these varieties
have to be promoted in farmer’s field for dissemination and scaling up.
Keywords: Adaptable, Common bean, high yielding, released varieties, RCBD
INTRODUCTION
Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) (2n = 22) belongs
to the order Rosales, family Leguminosae, subfamily
Papilionoideae, tribe Phaseoleae (CIAT, 1986a). The crop
is grown worldwide for its edible bean, popular as dry,
fresh and green beans. It is one of Africa's most essential
pulses (Broughton et al., 2003). Common bean is a staple
food for more than 100 million people in Africa. It is an
important crop for food, cash and agro-ecosystem
improvement in many countries in eastern, central and
southern Africa. The crop is mainly grown by small scale
farmers with limited access to agricultural inputs. Common
beans are grown throughout Ethiopia and are an
increasingly important commodity in the cropping systems
of smallholder producers for food security and income. The
major production areas in Ethiopia are the Rift Valley
areas. Farmers grow a wide range of bean types, in terms
of colour and size, but the most common types are the
pure red and pure white beans.
Common bean is adapted to areas with altitudes ranging
from sea level to nearly 3000 masl (CIAT, 1986b).
However, it does not grow well below 600 masl due to poor
pod set caused by high temperature (Cobley, 1976).
*Corresponding Author: Habtamu Alemu, Department of
Plant Breeding, Assosa Agricultural Research Center,
Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, P.O.Box 265,
Ethiopia Email: halemu2017@gmail.com, Tel:
+251917135691 Co-Author: wakjiragetachew9@gmail.com
International Journal of Plant Breeding and Crop Science
Vol. 5(1), pp. 330-334, February, 2018. © www.premierpublishers.org. ISSN: XXXX-XXXX
Research Article

2. Performance Evaluation of released Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) varieties at Benishangul Gumuz region, Ethiopia
Alemu and Getachew 331
It is well adapted to areas that receive an annual average
rainfall ranging from 500 to 1500 mm with optimum
temperature range of 16 to 24 0C, and a frost-free period
of 105 to 120 days. Moreover, it performs best on deep,
friable and well aerated soil types with optimum pH range
of 6.0 to 6.8 (Kay, 1979). Beans can be grown on light
sandy soils to heavy clay soils of well drained soils as they
are sensitive to water logging (IAR, 1979).
In Ethiopia, population is growing in more rate than the
agricultural production does. To feed this increasing
population the agricultural production should grow
accordingly with the same pace or even more. Pulses are
the most important crops in the national strategy of food
self-reliance and foreign exchange earnings. Therefore, to
increase the productivity of the farmers, it is crucial to
increase the awareness of farmers towards the usage of
different improved technologies that increase their
production and accelerate food security through proper
implementation.
Access to new and improved agricultural technologies is
limited in Benishangul Gumuz generally and Asosa and
Kamashi Zones as well as Mao-komo especial Wodeda
specifically most probably due to remoteness from the
center of excellence (the research centers were the new
technologies with full packages are introduced) and the
farmers awareness about the new technology is very
limited in the areas. The potential of pulse crops is not
exploited in this part of the region due to lack of improved
varieties, poor management practices, biotic factors
(weeds, diseases and insect pests etc.), and abiotic factor
(soil acidity, high intensity and long duration of rainfall). So
far, the national research institution in collaboration with
different regional research institutes in the country has
released many varieties for commercial Production across
different agro-ecologies. Hence, these technologies did
not test for their adaptability and yielding potential under
Benishangul Gumuz region and did not reach the
smallholder farmers living in the area. Having these points,
to overcome the above stated problems and to acquaint
smallholder farmers with new technologies of widely grown
pulse crops production, the released bean varieties were
tested to identify well-performed, adaptable and high
yielding varieties at Kamashi and Tongo(Mao-komo)
testing sites of Assosa Agricultural Research Center.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The Study Area
The experiment was conducted at Kamashi and Mao-
komo testing sites of Assosa Agricultural Research Center
which were located 250 km and 126 km from the Assosa
Agricultural Research Center. The description of the study
areas was given by the following table.
Table 1: Description of the study areas
Locations Altitude (m.a.s.l.) Temp./min and max (0c) Rain fall Average (mm) Soil type Global position
Latitude Longitude
Kamashi 1000 20 and 30 500-1800 nitosol 10.0670N 34.5170E
Tongo 1215 17.5 and 29.1 1486 nitosol 09031.444’’N 35053.222’E
Treatments and Experimental Design
Sixteen improved varieties of common bean (ICAB UNSI
X 87, SER-125, SER-119, Cherchere, Awash-1,
Dinkinesh, GLP-2, Nazareth-2, Chore, SER-48, Lehode,
Ecab-0056, Argene, Dimtu, Naser and Awash Melka) were
tested in a randomized complete block design (RCBD)
with three replications over two locations for two years.
Common bean was sown in six rows per plot with spacing
of 40 cm between rows and 10 cm between plants within
a row with gross plot area of 9.6m2.
Data Collection
Phenological Parameters
Phenological parameters such as days to flowering and
days to maturity were recorded. Days to flowering was
recorded by counting the number of days after emergence
when 50% of the plants per plot had the first open flower.
Days to maturity was recorded when 90% of pods/plot
matured
Grain Yield and Yield Components
Four central rows were harvested for determination of
grain yield. Grain yield was adjusted to 12.5% moisture
content. Five plants were randomly selected from the four
central rows to determine yield and yield components,
such as number of pods per plant and number of seeds
per pod. Pod number per plant was determined by
counting pods of the five randomly selected plants while
number of seeds per pod was recorded by counting the
total number of seeds in a pod from the five randomly
selected plants. Hundred seed weight was determined by
taking a random sample of 100 seeds from the total yield
Statistical Analysis
GenStat version (18) was used for data analysis. Mean
separation was conducted using Duncan’s Multiple Range
Test (DMRT) at 0.05 probability level.

3. Performance Evaluation of released Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) varieties at Benishangul Gumuz region, Ethiopia
Int. J. Plant Breed. Crop Sci. 332
Table 2: Combined mean values of yield and yield components of sixteen common bean varieties
Variety YLD DTF DTM PLH PPPT SPPT Sppd HSW
SER-125 2220 a 44.25e 89gh 34e 9.25c-f 37.75b-f 5.25a-d 30.42bc
SER-119 2022ab 45.17de 90.58d-h 39.4cde 10.25b-e 45.33b 5.5abc 25.92de
SER-48 1891bc 44.33e 90.75d-h 40.33cde 12.083bc 43.92bcd 5bcd 28.5cd
Nasir 1800bc 44.58e 91.42d-g 47.03cd 10.917bcd 44bc 5.833a 23.83ef
GLP-2 1686cd 46.58c 91.92c-f 38.8cde 9.25c-f 31.42efg 4.17f 32.92ab
Dimtu 1446de 47.92b 88.58h 47.67cd 10.917bcd 39.75b-e 5.5ab 23.25e-i
Ecab-0056 1380ef 45.17de 91.75c-f 37.8de 6.917fg 24.67g 5.33a-d 34.08a
Chore 1280ef 51.08a 91.92c-f 40.97cde 14.917a 63.5a 5.5ab 27.08d
Awash-melka 1261ef 48.58b 89.58fgh 40.2cde 9.917c-f 39.33b-e 5.5ab 20.17gi
Cherchere 1200ef 49b 90.33e-h 42.13cde 13.083ab 39.5b-e 4.75def 23.58e-h
Lehode 1109f 45.25de 91.25d-g 50.33bc 7.25efg 24.58g 4.33ef 31.5abc
ICAB UNSI x 87 672g 45.08de 94.08bc 63.78a 8.417d-g 33.92c-g 5.17a-d 23.33e-i
Dinkinesh 580g 50.25a 94.92b 50.17bc 5.833g 23.75g 4.83bde 21.58f-i
Awash-1 572g 46.08cd 92.92bcd 49.03bcd 8.917def 29.75efg 5.17a-d 21.67f-i
Nazareth-2 478g 48.83b 97.25a 59.52ab 9.75c-f 31.17efg 4.17f 23.42e-i
Argene 474g 48.25b 91.75c-f 37.97de 7.583efg 28.92fg 4.67def 23.58efg
LSD 550.913 1.99 4.26 15.2 5.22 17.65 1.16 5.9
CV 27.2 2.6 2.9 20.9 23.3 30.1 14.2 14.1
CV=Coefficient of variation, LSD= Least Significant Difference, DTF=Days to 50% flowering, DTM= days to 95%maturity,
PHT= plant height, PPPT= number of pod/plant, SPPT= number of Seed/plant, SPPd= number of seed/pod, HSW=
hundred seed weight, YLD=Yield,
RESULT AND DISCUSSION
Combined analysis of variance for both years and seasons
was done to test the response of varieties to both
environment and seasons after testing the homogeneity of
the data. The result of analysis of variance based on
randomized complete block design experiment was
presented in Appendices 1. Analyses of variance revealed
significant varietal differences (P< 0.001) in seed yield, but
no significant varietal differences observed in all other
characters across both location and years. This result
indicated that there was significant variation among
varieties on their yielding abilities at both Kamashi and
Tongo during both cropping seasons. The highest number
of pods per plant (14.917pods/plant), was obtained from
Chore, while the lowest number of pods per plant was
obtained from Dinkinesh (5.833) followed by Ecab-0056
(6.917 pods/plant). The longest days to flowering were
recorded from Dinkinesh (50.25 days) while the shortest
days to flowering were recorded from Nasir variety (44.58)
followed by SER 48 (44.33). The highest number of seed
per pod (5.833) was recorded from Nasir variety whereas
the lowest seed per pod number was from both Nazereth-
2 and GLP-2(4.17seeds/pod). Similarly, Chore variety
gave the highest number of seed per plant (63.5seed per
plant) while variety Ecab-0056 gave the least number of
seed per plant (24.67 seed/plant). The tallest plant height
was recorded from ICAB UNSI x 87 (63.78cm) whereas
the shortest plant height was recorded from SER-125
(34cm). Finally, SER-125 variety produced the highest
seed yield per hectare (2220kg/ha) followed by SER-119
(2022 kg/ha), SER-48 (1891kg/ha) and Nasir (1800kg/ha)
varieties respectively. In contrary, Argene variety
produced the lowest (474 kg/ha) seed yield per hectare
followed by Nazareth-2 (478 kg/ha), Awash-1 (572kg/ha),
dinkinesh (580kg/ha) and ICAB UNSI x 87 (672 kg/ha)
varieties (Table 1). In line with this findings Kassaye, 2006;
Shahid and Kamaluddin, 2013 and Fahad et al., 2014,
reported that significant variability was observed for plant
height, days to 50% flowering, days to 90% physiological
maturity, pods per plant, seed yield per pod, hundred seed
weight and yield characters. When locations were
compared, the highest Seed yield was obtained at
Kamashi during 2014/15 cropping season from SER-48
Variety (2,710 kg/ha) followed by SER-125 (2,524 kg/ha),
while Argene (110 kg/ha) was poor yielding variety at
Tongo for 2013/14 cropping season (Appendix Table 2).
Generally, tongo was less yielder than kamashi during
both cropping seasons which may be resulted from the
heavy rain fall at Tongo than Kamashi. Significant SYD
variations among varieties and across locations could be
due to inherent character of varieties and uneven rainfall
distribution. Sperling et al., (1994) stated that during the
season on heavy rains, bush bean yields are nearly cut in
half.
CONCLUSION
Evaluating the adaptability of improved varieties is the
major and important activity where there is no technology
delivered before. Based on the result of the evaluation the
production and productivity can be improved using the
recommendation of the varieties for specific and wider
adaptation. The result of this experiment indicated that
varieties SER-125, SER-119, SER-48 and Nasir gave
higher yield respectively over both years and locations.
Nasir variety showed great character in tolerating abiotic
factors specifically, soil acidity which has been a
bottleneck problem to agricultural production and

4. Performance Evaluation of released Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) varieties at Benishangul Gumuz region, Ethiopia
Alemu and Getachew 333
productivity in western part of the country including Assosa
and West wollega zone of Oromia region. Therefore, these
varieties can be promoted in farmers’ field for
dissemination and scaling up.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We thank the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research
in general for the funding and supporting the research
program and Assosa Agricultural Research Center
specifically, for their support throughout the research work
by providing logistics. We are also indebted to the
Melkassa Agricultural Research Center, Department of
Low land pulse Breeding for providing the research
materials during research program.
REFERENCE
CIAT (Centro International de Agricultura Tropical), 1986a.
Morphology of the common bean plant: Study guide to
be used as a supplement to the audio tutorial unit on
the same topic. Cali, Colombia.
Cobley, L. S., and W.M. Steele. 1976. An Introduction to
the Botany of Tropical Crops. 2ndedition. Longman
Group Limited, London.
Fahad KA, Muhammad YK, Obaid A, Mukhtar A, Arshad
NC (2014). Agro-morphological Evaluation of some
Exotic Common bean (phaseolus vulgaris L.)
Genotypes under Rain fed Conditions of Islamabad,
Pakistan. J. Bot. 46(1):259-264.
IAR,1979. Hand Book on Crop production in Ethiopia.
1stedition, Institute of Agricultural Research. Addis
Ababa. Ethiopia.
Kassaye N (2006). Studies on Genetic Divergence in
Common Bean (phaseolus vulgaris L.) Introductions of
Ethiopia, Unpublished MSc thesis, School of Graduate
Studies of Addis Ababa University in Applied Genetics
(Biology), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Kay, D. E., 1979. Food Legumes. Gray’s Inn Road London
WCIX8LU, London. pp. 124-146.
Shahid A, Kamaluddin (2013). Correlation and path
analysis for agromorphological traits in rajmash beans
under Baramulla-Kashmir region. Afr. J. Agric. Res.
8(18):2027-2032.
Sperling, L., U. Scheidegger, R. Buruchara, P. Nyabyenda
and S. Munyanessa, 1994. Intensifying Production
among Small Holder Farmers. The Impact of Improved
Climbing Bean in Rwanda. CIAT African Occasional
Publication. Butar, Rwanda.
W.J. Broughton, G. Hernandez, M.W. Blair, S.E. Beebe, P.
Gepts, J. Vanderleyden, Beans (Phaseolus spp.) model
food legumes, Plant Soil 252 (2003) 55–128.
Accepted 11 January 2018
Citation: Alemu H, Getachew W (2018). Performance
Evaluation of released Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris
L.) varieties at Benishangul Gumuz region, Ethiopia.
International Journal of Plant Breeding and Crop Science
5(1): 330-334.
Copyright: © 2018 Alemu and Getachew. This is an open-
access article distributed under the terms of the Creative
Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted
use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium,
provided the original author and source are cited.

5. Performance Evaluation of released Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) varieties at Benishangul Gumuz region, Ethiopia
Int. J. Plant Breed. Crop Sci. 334
APPENDECES
Appendix 1: Mean Squares of yield and yield components of Common bean varieties tested at Kamashi and Tongo
Source of variation DF DTF DTM PHT PPPT SPPT SPPd HSW YLD
Variety 15 39.09** 59.494** 806.05** 66.80** 1244.5** 3.14** 224.25** 3968887.08**
Loc 1 9143.88** 29403.0** 7154.08** 417.13** 7995.4** 0.083** 150.52** 1300884.0*
Var. Loc. 15 10.51** 58.411** 239.19* 63.25** 958.2** 0.67ns 111.27** 307135.0*
Year 1 89.38** 310.083** 0.75ns 18.13ns 29.3ns 50.02** 154.08** 2355059.0**
Var. * year 15 0.058ns 2.361ns 1.67ns 0.59 ns 2.6ns 0.0097ns 13.58ns 390013.0**
Year*Loc 1 634.38** 2670.083** 4485.33** 125.13** 1490.8** 0.02ns 168.75** 13400258.0**
Variety*year*Loc 15 0.058ns 2.361ns 1.37ns 0.59ns 2.9ns 0.0097ns 14.65ns 414938.0**
Residual 126 1.521 6.971 88.54 10.45 119.3 0.5136 13.42 116246.0
Total 191
**= significant at 0.01 probability level, * = significant 0.05 probability level, DF= Degree of freedom, DTF=Days to 50%
flowering, DTM= days to 95%maturity, PHT= plant height, PPPT= number of pod/plant, SPPT= number of Seed/plant,
SPPd= number of seed/pod, HSW= hundred seed weight, YLD=Yield,
Appendix Table X: Mean yield (kg/ha) of Sixteen Common bean varieties tested at Kamashi and Tongo during 2013/14
and 2014/15
Tongo Kamashi
Variety 2013/14 2014/15 2013/14 2014/15
1 SER-125 2488a 2233a 1637.1abc 2524ab
2 NASER 2187b 1640bc 1717.5ab 1656d-g
3+ GLP-2 2030c 1451cd 1227.6a-e 2036bcd
4 SER-119 1922cd 2080ab 1854.4a 2233abc
5 CHORE 1837d 261f 718.4b-f 2306abc
6 SER-48 1666e 2017ab 1169a-f 2710a
7 ECAB-0056 1643e 1362cde 853.3a-f 1660d-g
8 AWASH-MELKA 1633e 992e 928.4a-f 1492efg
9 DINMTU 1550e 1102de 1320.4a-d 1810cde
10 CHERCHERE 1361f 913e 834.3a-f 1692def
11 LEHODE 1271f 940e 1482.1abc 742h
12 ICAB UNSI X 87 519g 313f 629c-f 1230fgh
13 NAZARETH-2 420g 187f 163f 1140gh
14 AWASH-1 408g 207f 206.9ef 1464efg
15 DINKINESH 165h 247f 357.1def 1551d-g
16 ARGENE 110h 354f 291.3def 1141gh
Mean 1325.59 1018.72 961.85 1711.72
Lsd 150.23 419.149 900.947 473.32
CV 6.8 24.7 23.2 16.6